LAW CREDITED IN RAPID DECLINE OF ILLEGAL DRUG LABS IN OKLAHOMA

The reductions are staggering. Across Oklahoma, the number of
methamphetamine labs seized has fallen rapidly since the pseudoephedrine
control act was enacted on April 6.

"For 10 years, we never saw a decline," said Mark Woodward, Oklahoma Bureau
of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs spokesman. "For the last seven months, the
numbers have been down, and the only thing that's changed is the law. And
when I say down, I mean 70 to 100 percent in some areas."

The act made it more difficult for meth "cooks" to obtain cold tablets
containing pseudoephedrine -- a key ingredient in meth -- by removing those
products from store shelves. The cold remedies are still available, but
access is limited.

The act also allows judges to deny bond to people arrested for
manufacturing meth.

Cleveland County District Attorney Tim Kuykendall is among the act's many
proponents.

"At first we didn't see much of an impact ... but since then, we have seen
a dramatic decrease in the number of meth labs," he said. "It's been cut
down by probably 75 percent."

Devin Huckaby, a narcotics investigator for the drug task force in Altus,
said the act has done "a lot of good."

"Since that law passed," Huckaby said, "we've done five labs here, where we
usually would've done 30."

Sgt. Charles Phillips, Oklahoma City police spokesman, agreed.

"There's been a noticeable decline," he said. "Any time you make it more
difficult for individuals involved in the process, then ultimately you are
going to slow down or reduce the production and manufacture."